Katsina approves N1.3bn to pay final exam fees in public secondary schools

Dikko Radd, the governor of Katsina state, has approved more than N1.3 billion for the payment of final examination fees for indigent students in public secondary schools in the state.

Mukhtar Abdulmumini, the chief executive at the planning and research department of the state’s ministry of basic and secondary education, announced this in Katsina.

NAN reports that Abdulmumini spoke during the fourth quarter meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for social protection in the state.

The meeting was supported by UNICEF in collaboration with the state’s ministry of budget and economic planning.

Abdulmumini said, within the period, N370.9 million was spent on 20,269 students who sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He added that N992.9 million was approved for 48,385 students who sat for the National Examination Council (NECO).

“Also, the sum of N27.9 million was paid for 1,878 who sat for the National Board for Arabic and Islamic (NBAIS) examination,” the chief executive said.

Abdulmumini said N4.5 million was paid for those students who sat for the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) exams.

The amount spent for the payment of final examinations for the state’s indigenes in this quarter alone, he added, is more than N1.3 billion.

Abdulmumini said payment of the examination fees was an effort to encourage the indigenous students who sat for their various final examinations including WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, and NABTEB.

He further revealed that, in an effort to reduce the rate of unemployment and boost education in the state, the government had recruited 7,325 new teachers for both primary and secondary schools.

“Within the period, no fewer than 350 evaluators received training on Essential Quality Assurance Skills for teachers. The government has also procured chemistry materials for 30 schools at N26 million,” he said.

“Katsina state, in collaboration with UNICEF and in their effort on climate change, granted N150,000 to 25 schools in five LGAs each.

“The grant will be used for the prevention of desert encroachment and erosion through planting trees in their schools and to take other measures.

“The disbursement of the grant is the first phase, the second phase will be disbursed very soon and is N100,000. The benefiting LGAs include Bindawa, Funtua, Bakori, Kaita and Jibia.”